, 1887-10-20
LARAMIE NEXT YEAR.
Grand Lodge |. o. O. F. Meets in the
Gem City in 1888.
They Transact the Business of the
Session in Two Days.
A Brief History of the Origin of the
Benevolent Order.

The Wyoming grand lodge of the 1. o.
o. F., concluded its fifteenth annual ses-
sion at the Eddy street hall of the order
late yesterday afternoon, and adjourned
TO meet in Laramie City next October,
that place having been designated as the
home or headquarters of the grand lodge
several years ago, and the point where
meetings must be held at least once every
two years.
The business transacted yesterday was
of a nature of vital interest to members
Of the order. including important altera
tions in bylaws relative to sick and death
benefits, jurisdiction, physical eligibility
of applicants, etc. In the morning tie
following encampment officers were duly
installed:
H. d. Beemer, Laramie, G. P.
Chas. Wilseck. Cheyenne, G.. "a. P.
E. f. Gaylor, Cheyenne, G. S. w.
W. H. Amesbury, Laramie, G. S.
Geo. T. Durbin, Cheyenne, G. T.
j. 7. McMillen, Rawlins, G. J. W.
Mark Jennings, Laramie, L. S.
VIM. Spence, Evanston, o. S.
F. Ruprecht, Laramie, G. NJ.
l.. Kabis, Cheyenne, G. R.
A majority OF the delegates departed
for their homes on the westbound train
last evening. All expressed themselves
well pleased with the manner in which
they had been received and entertained
by members OF the local lodges and the
citizens generally. On behalf of the
people of the capital city THE LEADER
invites the delegates to visit Cheyenne
again. To real gentlemen. members of
such a benevolent and worthy order as the
Odd Fellows, the latch string is always on
the outside.
Though no prize drills, grand parades,
bountiful banquets or brilliant balls &C.
Cured, every visitor was made to feel
that he was at home, and the delegates
evidently appreciated the attentions
shown them. The Cheyenne brethren
had planned drive about the city for the
visitors, but the inclement weather pre-
vented indulgence in this form of enter
tainment.
So much interest has been taken in the
order during the meeting of the grand
lodge here that THE LEADER yesterday
secured the following authentic history of
its origin and introduction into the United
States:
In the latter part of the eighteenth
century lodges or societies of mechanics
and laborers existed in London, calling
themselves Ancient and Honorable
Loyal Odd Fellows" Their meetings
were for convivial purposes and were gen
orally held in taverns. 1t became the
custom for each member once a week to
contribute a penny to a fund for the re-
lief of the poor amongst them, and
especially to defray burial expenses and
provide for the widows and orphans of
deceased members. The order soon ex-
tended to Liverpool and finally spread
throughout the entire kingdom.
Odd Fellowship in the United States
owes its introduction to Thos. Wildey,
an English blacksmith who, with four
others, organized at Baltimore, April 20,
1919, Washington lodge No. ], which
body soon after received a charter from
the grand lodge in London.
Since the Baltimore society was organ
lied the order has spread rapidly through
out the United States, until to-day there
are from three or four lodges to over 100
in every state and territory in the Union.
In the ranks of the order are some Of the
foremost men of the day. Their insur
ance branch and sick benefit methods are
considered second to none.